Headstraps for earphone



Jan. 26, 1965 T. G PALMAER HEADSTRAPS FOR EARPHONE Filed Sept. 22, 1961F I G. 2-

INVENTOR. TORE GEORG PALMAER ATTORNEYS nited States Patent 3,l67,hl9Patented Jan. 26, 1965 3,167,619 HEADSTRAPS FOR EARPHONE Tore GeorgPalmaer, Vrakvagen 31, Lidingo 1, Sweden Filed Sept. 22, 1961, Ser. No.140,063 3 Claims. (Cl. 179-156) The present invention relates to aheadstrap with a crown cushion to support, for example, an ear shieldfor noise or heat, with or without earphones or microphone andelectrical connectors, whereby the earphones and microphone also can beused without the noise shield.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements erein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

One purpose of the invention is to furnish a head strap which can befitted easily to any head shape, is comfortable and has greatflexibility and is easily adjustable. Another purpose is to furnish ahead strap with a waterproof crown cushion which has a small weight andconstructed in such a manner that it can be worn so that the crown isfree (for example the strap can be carried under the chin). Furthermoreit should be possible to apply the strap with only one hand, and thedesign should be such that it lends itself favorably for massproduction.

A large number of head straps of various kinds are known. Thus a knowndesign makes use of two, essentially parallel, springy wires or ribbonswith a cushion in between for protection of the crown.

The wires or ribbons preferably are bent in such a manner that theradius of curvature increases toward the ends of the wires. The wiresrun through guide channels through the edges of the cushion. However,the straps of this kind do not fulfill the requirements given above.Tests have shown that the two-wire type straps are not strong and if thewires are connected at the ends the straps are too stiff so that thepressure against the cars will be uneven. On the other hand, two wirestraps which are not connected at the ends are too flimsy to carryearphones and to put on comfortably.

The proposed strap is made to fulfill the requirements mentioned byhaving the crown cushion divided into several parts by compressedportions running crosswise and securing the cushion to the Wires, thusholding the wires in correct positions at the edges of the cushion andproviding improved flexibility of the cushion in the lengthwisedirection and improved stiffness in the crosswise direction. The ends ofthe wires can be moved freely.

One form of the invention is shown schematically on the attached drawingwhere FIGURES 1 and 2 show front and side views respectively of thestrap with attached ear muffs. FIGURES 3 and 4 show, enlarged, thesections III-III in FIGURE 1 and IVIV in FIGURE 2. Furthermore FIGURE 5shows a section through the line V-V in FIGURE 2.

The main strap consists in essence of two approximately parallel springywires or ribbons 1, bent so that the radius of curvature increasestoward the ends; the wires may be terminated by balls 2 or a microphoneholder. The crown cushion 3 consists of four layers of plastic; a ratherstiff plastic foil 4 on the outside, then a comparatively soft plasticlayer 5, a layer of foam rubber 6, and a soft corrugated layer 7 closestto the head. These plastic layers can be replaced with other flexiblewaterproof material. After completion of the cushion the wires areinserted in channels 11 along the edges of the cushion between the outerbands 4, 5 (FIGURE 3). Between the strap wires are transverse seams 8running across at even intervals which divide the cushion in severalparts. These seams hold the wires in the correct place and also give thecushion appropriate stiffness in the cross direction and flexibility inthe lengthwise direction. Furthermore they also provide air channels forventilation. The stiff foil 4 on the outside of the cushion pushes thefoam rubber 6 against the inside surface and holds, together with thesoft intermediate foil 5, the wires 1 outside or above the foam layer 6so that the straps do not press against the crown. The innermost layer 7should be soft and the surface should be rough to give a comfortable,secure feeling when the strap is worn. The inside of the cushion can becovered also with water absorptive material such as cloth which is morecomfortable than plastic.

By means of special attachments 13 the head strap can carry for examplenoise muffs 12 with or without earphones.

In one or more of the various parts of the cushion 3, preferably nearthe far end, an electric connector 9 (FIG- URE 5) can be applied betweenthe layers 4 and 5, for earphones or microphone which also can bemounted on the main strap.

In the channels for the springy wires 1 the electrical leads 10 for theearphones can be placed.

In the strap thus described the wires follow the shape of the head andcan move independently of each other. The strap is so flexible that itcan be compressed essentially flat and it can be twisted without beingdamaged. It is covered with essentially waterproof material and can beplaced on the head with only one hand. Finally it can, if desired, becarried under the chin, and it can readily be mass produced. The fourplastic layers can be fed into a plastic seam forming machine which inone operation can make the crown cushion, into which the strap wires areinserted. The terminating balls 2 are introduced after the mountingelements for the noise muffs, etc., have been added.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificelements shown and described, but departures may be made therefrom,within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A headstrap, in essence consisting of two generally parallel, springystrips with a crown cushion having channels along the edges thereof,said strips being bent so that the radius of curvature increases in thedirection of the strip ends, and being inserted in said channels alongthe edges of said crown cushion, the cushion including lateral sectionswhich run crosswise of the cushion at intervals between the strips, saidsections holding the strips in proper positions at the ends of thecushion and increasing the flexibility of the cushion in the lengthwisedirection and at the same time increasing the stiffness in the crosswisedirection, said strips being, free outside the cushion channels, andessentially movable independently.

2. A headstrap according to claim 1, wherein said Q3 s crown cushioncomprises a foam rubber member with a References Cited by the Examinercomparatively stii'l' Waterproof layer on the outside and UNITED STATESPATENTS with a comparatively soft, waterproof layer on the in 2 3815248/45 T I 179 156 'd h h 1 edt eth 1 'th d 'th ay 0r si e w 1c ayers are01n og er a ong e si es W1 2,717,930 9/55 Hintz 179 156 clearancetherebetween for said channels. 5

3. A headstrap according to claim 2, including aconnector adapted to beused for an electrical component, ROBERT H. ROSE, Primary Examiner.

said connector being located inside said waterproof layers, WILLIAM C.COOPER, Examiner.

1. A HEADSTRAP, IN ESSENCE CONSISTING OF TWO GENERALLY PARALLEL, SPRINGYSTRIPS WITH A CROWN CUSHION HAVING CHANNELS ALONG THE EDGES THEREOF,SAID STRIPS BEING BENT SO THAT THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE INCREASES IN THEDIRECTION OF THE STRIP ENDS, AND BEING INSERTED IN SAID CHANNELS ALONGTHE EDGES OF SAID CROWN CUSHION, THE CUSHION INCLUDING LATERAL SECTIONSWHICH RUN CROSSWISE OF THE CUSHION AT INTERVALS BETWEEN THE STRIPS, SAIDSECTIONS HOLDING THE STRIPS IN PROPER POSITIONS AT THE ENDS OF THECUSHION AND INCREASING THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE CUSHION IN THE LENGTHWISEDIRECTION AND AT THE SAME TIME INCREASING THE STIFFNESS IN THE CROSSWISEDIRECTION, SAID STRIPS BEING, FREE OUTSIDE THE CUSHION CHANNELS, ANDESSENTIALLY MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY.